Exclusive By Raïssa Robles The amended Intellectual Property Code, Republic Act 8293, allows warrantless searches and raids and seizure – a violation of the Bill of Rights of the 1987 Constitution. Several lawyers said the amended law actually gives copyright owners more rights than victims of such crimes as murder, rape and terrorism. It gives the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) […]

Below is the history of how amendments to Republic Act 8293 became law in the 15th Congress. And who supported it. This is another law that has been over 10 years in the making. I am now writing Part 2 and am being guided by your questions and comments. Thanks. Intellectual property amendments legislative history from raissarobles

Exclusive By Raïssa Robles Everyday, many Filipinos arrive in Manila, bringing back with them books as well as DVDs and CDs of music and movies they bought in other countries for their personal use. They can do this without fear of being questioned because it’s a right specifically granted “to persons or families arriving from foreign countries” under Section 190 […]

Exclusive By Raïssa Robles While monitoring the Supreme Court hearing on the cybercrime law yesterday, I was drawn to this tiny business story that broke, which would have a strong impact on our tourism, millions of Filipinos flying in and out of the country and on the economy. Transport Secretary Joseph Abaya announced he will soon sign a US$45 million […]

Exclusive By Raïssa Robles We need to know what caused the recent tragedy. We need to know because a lot of misinformation and disinformation are swirling around over the sudden death of hundreds of Filipinos, buried under tons of mud that cascaded down the nearly bald mountain ranges surrounding Compostela Valley at the height of Typhoon Pablo. An anti-mining group […]

But barely passing for anti-crime By Raïssa Robles It’s remarkable. President Benigno Aquino has yet to be mired in a major money scandal two years into his presidency. No senior official in the Executive Department has been tainted with graft to this day despite temptation being everywhere. Of course we do not know if a scandal has already happened and […]

By Raïssa Robles Those businessmen, Filipino contract workers and other passengers who are angry due to canceled flights of Philippine Airlines should keep this in mind – that what they deem essential is only a rich man’s plaything. I would not have believed I heard this from the mouth of PAL president Jaime Bautista himself if I had not […]

Why I believe the real intent is to bust the union By Raïssa Robles Billionaire Lucio Tan has sacked 2,600 Philippine Airline (PAL) employees so most of them can be rehired by two companies formed by Manuel H. Osmeña, a long-time business partner of his family. Over a decade ago, the same long-time business partner formed an in-flight catering […]

Maybe angry airline passengers should read PAL’s September 24 press release arbitrarily cutting flights By Raïssa Robles A commenter to my blog named Mikko pointed out a very interesting item on the Philippine Airlines website to me. It turns out that PAL posted there a press release dated September 24, 2011 entitled “PAL reduces flights ahead of spin […]